Needs Improvement
#2585 of 2,648 schools in NC
North Rowan Elementary
Elementary School · Rowan-salisbury Schools · Spencer, NC
A Rowan-salisbury Schools elementary school where students score 35 points below what's typical for similar communities.
600 Charles St, Spencer, NC 28159
- Math 10% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 14% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at North Rowan Elementary score 12% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2020, to 12% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
99%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where North Rowan Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Charlotte map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 11Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average524/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,396
Median home value
$160,300
Median rent
$1,042/mo
College educated
22.5%
Homeownership
62%
Poverty rate
12.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28159; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dole ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 2.6 | PK–5 | 2.2 mi | 396 | Compare → |
| Overton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 2.2 | K–5 | 2.8 mi | 271 | Compare → |
| North Hills Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–12 | 3.1 mi | 384 | Compare → |
| Summit Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | K–8 | 3.2 mi | 171 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Rowan-salisbury Schools
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #25 of 32
- District spending per student
- $12,141NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
North Rowan Elementary is listed in Rowan-Salisbury Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About North Rowan Elementary
North Rowan Elementary is a public elementary school in Spencer, NC, part of Rowan-salisbury Schools, serving approximately 413 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,585 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about North Rowan Elementary
What grades does North Rowan Elementary serve?
North Rowan Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend North Rowan Elementary?
North Rowan Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 413 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Rowan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at North Rowan Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does North Rowan Elementary rank in NC?
North Rowan Elementary ranks #2,585 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is North Rowan Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
North Rowan Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at North Rowan Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, North Rowan Elementary has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is North Rowan Elementary a charter school?
No, North Rowan Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is North Rowan Elementary a Title I school?
No, North Rowan Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for North Rowan Elementary?
99.0% of students at North Rowan Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 413
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 30
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Rowan County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 35.8%
- Phone
- (704) 639-3042
- Area population (ZIP 28159)
- 3,181
- Area median age
- 43.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28159; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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